Life hacks – 15 ways to make your life easier in 2024
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It’s becoming obvious that any time I see a simple trick being praised online, I have to try it.
It’s definitely worth giving it a spin to see if it works for your machine, but — in the long term — consult your machine’s specifications to see what they recommend for a satisfying deep clean.
Windows can be some of the most frustrating areas of the home to clean. Try as you might, sometimes there’s just no removing those streaks for an otherwise clean glass.
You could take a trip to the cleaning aisle for an alternative cleaning product, but there are a few tried and tested homemade mixtures that do the job just as well (if not a little better).
One popular choice is a blend of washing-up liquid and warm water, with a splash of fabric softener added to the mix.
The fabric softener combats the marks the washing-up liquid could cause and guarantees a streak-free finish. Simply use it on a cloth to wipe down your windows, and use a squeegee to remove any excess water from the glass.
If you struggle to find the right cloth for cleaning your window, consider a different material instead.
Keep some old newspaper and use the pages in your cleaning routine.
After spraying the window with your preferred cleaner, scrunch the newspaper into a ball and use it to wipe everything away. It will remove all the cleaning product, while guaranteeing a streak-free result.
: If the surrounds of your window or your window sill are likely to develop mould, you don’t need to reach for the bleach straight away.
For an effective spray without as harsh chemicals, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil.
Spray it on the problem surface and allow it to sit for half an hour. Wipe it away to reveal clean, mould-free windows.
: If all the unfiltered light pouring through your squeaky clean window is highlighting the dust in your horizontal blinds, there’s a quick and easy method to get those dust-free in no time.
Wrap two microfibre clothes around both ends of a kitchen tongs and secure with elastic bands.
Use the tongs to hold each individual blind and gently swipe it across.
It will gather all the dust and dirt on both sides of the blind.
Repeat until the whole blind is completed — you may need to replace the cloths as you go if the blinds are very dusty.
: If you see dust and dirt gathering in window tracks, grooves, and other areas that a cloth can’t easily reach, some trusty baking soda/bicarbonate of soda and vinegar is the best way to clear those out quickly.
Sprinkle the baking soda into the area and pour vinegar over it. Leave them to bubble and settle for 10 minutes to loosen the grime. Using a sponge, you can now wipe away everything for a sparkling result.
Two readers contacted me asking for advice on the best way to clean an air fryer, a small kitchen appliance that we are seeing more of in Irish homes.
Air fryers are growing in popularity and many people are using them to cut down on oven use, saving money overall on energy bills.
An air fryer can bake and roast food (some of the more high-end offerings offer some more cooking techniques) in less time than an average oven would take, using less oil or fat and with a lot less energy.
Fat and residue from food will gather at the end of its basket and it should be cleaned after each use.
First, you should check your user manual to see if your air fryer is dishwasher safe. My first air fryer was a small one from a discount supermarket — a trooper of a machine, but it was handwash only.
I upgraded to a bigger two-drawer machine and was pleasantly surprised to see it was okay to wash this one’s baskets in the dishwasher.
It is not recommended to be done every time as it can eventually strip the non-stick coating on the basket, but it is a very handy option when short for time or when faced with a tricky clean up.
I place mine on the upper rack of the dishwasher and run it on my usual cycle. It comes out perfectly clean every time.
If you would rather hand wash your air fryer’s basket, it is also easily done.
Over the years, I found simple hot water and washing up liquid work best on these. The warm water will cut through grease and fat, and the washing-up liquid leaves it sparkly and smelling fresh. I generally wash them as I would a frying pan, as they often have a non-stick coating.
Sometimes stubborn residue will take more coaxing. This can be removed with a paste of baking soda and water.
Mix them together and apply to the problem areas, leaving the paste for 20 minutes before wiping off or scrubbing gently.
If your air fryer has a removable rack at the end of the basket, you can soak this in the sink in hot water and washing-up liquid too — using a small brush to get into the gaps.
For very baked-in marks, put a dishwasher tablet inside the basket and fill with hot water. Leave it for an hour and rinse to see an improvement.
To make your clean up a bit easier, I suggest lining the air fryer’s basket so you don’t have as much to scrub away from the appliance itself.
Tin foil is one option, or for a reusable option you can buy a silicone baking mould (generally more dishwasher-safe than the air fryer basket) and place the food to be cooked into this inside the basket. This means fewer crumbs gathering inside your machine.
Wood-burning stoves are a popular heating method in many Irish homes, but they can be tricky to clean if the soot has built up — especially during winter months.
If the glass on your stove’s door is black and opaque, it’s definitely time to tackle it.
Many people struggle to scrub away the burned-in marks, but there are some clever solutions that don’t involve too much elbow grease.
All you need is the all-wood ashes sitting at the bottom of the stove. Simply dip a damp cloth into the ashes and wipe at the glass. Alternatively, you can use a piece of newspaper to apply the ashes to the glass in a circular motion.
: Other stove owners swear by a cup of tea to tackle the glass.
No, I’m not suggesting you enjoy a brew. Dip a cloth into black tea and rub it on the glass of the door to remove the soot. Others suggest using a still-damp tea bag directly on the glass.
To avoid a dirty door in future, make sure you only burn dry logs in your stove, as more soot is produced by firewood with a moisture content over 20%.
: The exterior of the stove can tarnish over time too, whether from dust or exposure to moisture. To keep it in tip-top shape, rub some baby oil onto the outside of the stove to keep its glossy shine.
: If you’re now left with a sparkly stove and a pile of ashes, don’t just tip those in the bin. Wood ash (not coal ash) can be added to your garden.
It contains potash, which is amazing for plants. Just scatter the ash in the soil and, over time, rain will wash it deeper into the ground.
You could also bury it into the soil, or add it to your compost. Spread it lightly though in your garden as the ash contains salt, which won’t suit some plants.
It is worth noticing that wood ash can change the pH of soil by lowering the acid levels. Avoid using it around plants like azaleas, gardenias, and blueberries which thrive in acidic soil.
Wood ash can also deter pests and keep your garden free of unwanted pests.
Sprinkle it around the base of any plants you know are targeted by soft-bodied pests. This works best if the ash is dry. If they get wet, the salt will be washed away so you will need to sprinkle more ashes.
Cleaning the toilet is a thankless job that most of us don’t enjoy, especially if we’re dealing with a stained bowl.
Don’t despair, though, as some common household items can easily tackle even the most stubborn of marks — and they’re so unusual the cleaning process will surely keep you entertained.
: Don’t reach for the bleach to tackle germs and stains in your toilet bowl.
To tackle any discolouration, soak a paper towel with vinegar and place it on the affected area, leaving it overnight.
The next morning, remove the tissue and gently scrub the area before flushing to rinse the bowl.
This trick also works well to remove any built-up grime under the rim of your toilet bowl.
White vinegar is also great for removing hard water stains. Pour one cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and leave it for several hours or overnight to work. Scrub for a gleaming result.
: Another odd hack for stubborn stains is everyone’s go-to solution in difficult times — a cup of tea.
The tannins in tea can lift any stains, and they also have antimicrobial properties. Pour some brewed tea in the toilet bowl for several minutes — or several hours for severe stains — before brushing the bowl and flushing the stains away.
: One trick that has been an internet favourite for years involves using Coca-Cola to clean your toilet.
We all know too much Coca-Cola can be bad for your teeth, but the ingredients actually make it a great toilet-cleaning solution.
It can remove rings, build-up, and stains from your toilet bowl.
Pour a can of Coke around the rim of your toilet, ensuring it coats the entire bowl, and leave it for a few hours or overnight to get to work.
Scrub the toilet with a brush before flushing the Coke away.
: Some toilet bowl rings, from hard water, can be almost impossible to remove if they become very built up.
When other solutions fail, reach for an abrasive item to really scrub that mark.
A pumice stone is a popular item, but if you need results fast and you can’t get one quick enough — try using some light sandpaper instead.
Wet or dry sandpaper can remove mineral build-ups due to hard water.
Rub the surface gently with a very fine grit sandpaper— this really is a last resort solution for that reason. After a light scrub, rinse the bowl.
As any Irish mammy will tell you, when the forecast is this grim it’s not great weather for drying.
However, for those of us who can’t use a dryer for our clothes, the only option is to hang them indoors to dry — but this can trap excess condensation inside, resulting in issues such as damp and mould forming in our homes.
The experts at Beko have shared a few tips for drying clothes indoors, and avoiding the issues of damp and mould when doing so.
Damp specialist and property expert Paul Gibbens told Beko that drying wet laundry indoors can increase damp in the home by 30%.
“Excess moisture in the home can also impact your health significantly,” he says.
“As moisture levels increase, the environment will become damp which impacts your breathing, especially for those who suffer from asthma.
“The spores from the growth of mould can also cause allergic reactions.”
To avoid causing dampness while drying laundry, first you should improve the airflow in the area where you will be hanging the wet clothes.
Place your clothes horse somewhere with good airflow, and open a window or door for 15 minutes to increase ventilation.
If it’s just too cold for you to consider letting a chilly breeze in, consider purchasing a dehumidifier. This will help to quickly dry your clothes by removing excess moisture from the air.
It can be tempting to let laundry build up and wash it all in one load to save time, but putting too many clothes into a washing machine and overloading it can actually make the clothes wetter.
Similarly, spreading out your laundry loads can help avoid your clothes developing a damp smell.
If you have an overloaded clothes horse, often your clothes develop a damp smell after they’ve been sitting there too long to dry. Spacing out your washing so your clothes have enough space to dry will reduce their drying time and prevent that horrible smell.
It is unsurprising that a home appliance brand suggests buying a home appliance, but there is a decent case for investing in a tumble dryer.
They dry clothes quickly and effectively, and completely remove the need to fill your home with wet laundry.
: Pale fabric sofas look great when they’re first bought, but as the years go by they become tarnished by stains, dye transfer from clothes, and spills.
One hack that has been getting much attention in recent weeks in cleaning groups on Facebook involves shaving foam.
Cover the fabric you want to clean in a layer of shaving foam — any brand will do as long as it’s white.
Leave it to sit on the sofa for at least 20 minutes, or up to an hour for tougher marks. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the foam, scrubbing any stubborn stains as you go.
Once the foam has been completely removed, leave it to dry overnight.
The results are remarkable, and it can be used to spot-treat areas rather than treat an entire piece of furniture if you prefer — ideal for high-traffic areas like armrests.
This technique can also be used on dirty car seats by following the same steps.
: Much like our couches, pale carpets show the signs of wear and tear pretty quickly and can look filthy if people have been bringing muck and mud through the house.
To save yourself the expense of a professional deep-clean, first reach for the shaving foam. Similar to the sofa trick, cover the area you want to clean with shaving foam — massaging it in — and leave it for up to an hour.
Wipe it off with a damp cloth or use a toothbrush to scrub at more ingrained marks. Leave it to air dry. This is also great for any spills and stains.
: This is probably one of the best-known uses of shaving foam — other than for actual shaving, of course.
You can clean bathroom mirrors with shaving foam to get a shiny finish, which also prevents the mirror from fogging up after a steamy shower. Lather the foam and spread it on the mirror. Leave it for one minute before removing it with a clean, dry towel.
Now you can immediately use a mirror, no matter how much steam is in the room.
: While you’re in the bathroom, you might notice an unwelcome odour.
If you detect a hint of urine in the air, the shaving foam can remove that too.
Use it to clean the exterior of the toilet, from the floor to the seat.
It is particularly good at cleaning grout, which can harbour unsavoury scents too. Just cover the floor around the toilet with shaving foam, and scrub it away for a much nicer atmosphere.
Washing and drying our clothes isn’t the most exciting of jobs, and it can be easy to become frustrated with hard-to-budge stains or stinky washing machines.
Rather than throw out stained clothes or consider replacing your washing machine, we have a few tips from washing machine maker Beko to make your laundry experience as smooth as possible — just make sure you check the garment labels before trying these.
Smells can easily linger in a washing machine. Over time, mould and mildew can build up, causing a nasty smell and one of the simplest solutions is to make sure you clean your detergent drawer at least once per week.
As well as that, leave the door open after each use to allow air into the drum and remove excess moisture from the door. Seal the door with a clean cloth after each wash.
To remove sweat stains from white clothing, rub a little bit of white vinegar on the patches before putting them into the washing machine — then wash as normal.
Freeze them! When you are washing anything made of fluffy fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, and other natural soft fibres, pop them in the freezer for a couple of hours before putting them into the machine.
We’ve all been there and taken the chance, only to regret it when one piece of clothing dyes everything else it shared a drum with.
Next time you’re faced with this situation, try the dye test. Dampen a small area of the material and press a white tissue or clean cloth onto it. If any colour transfers, you’ll know to wash it separately from your other clothes. If not, it should be safe to wash with the rest of the load.
One thing you should avoid is overloading your washing machine’s drum, as it affects the machine’s performance and reduces its lifespan.
Luckily, it’s so simple to work out if you need to remove some clothes from the drum: You should be able to fit your whole hand comfortably in the top of the drum once it’s full.
If you can’t, make some more space by removing some items.
Like many people, I have a completely irrational fear of spiders.
While there are some I tolerate because they seem non-threatening to me, I have a deep-set fear of one of those large, gnarly guys finding his way through my bedroom window.
I’ve gotten quite good at ensuring the eight-legged monsters stay outside, and it’s been a great relief — even when the windows are thrown open during a heatwave.
If you’re like me and want to keep them as far away as possible, you only need one thing: Lemon juice.
As a teenager, I read that spiders’ taste buds are in their feet, so if they step on something that tastes horrible to them, they’ll do a full 180-degree turn to get away from it.
It’s common knowledge at this stage that spiders, flies, and other insects aren’t so fond of citrus scents, hence the rise of citronella candles on our garden tables.
The article I read suggested wiping your window with some lemon juice, and I ran straight to the fridge for the little squeezy bottle we had left over from Pancake Tuesday.
Rather than wipe the window I went further. I wiped it on the glass, but also the outer windowsill, the inside of the window while it was open, and the inside of the glass too.
I reapplied whenever the thought crossed my mind, probably twice a year.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it was years before a spider dared to step foot in my room again.
If you’re extra paranoid, you could even wipe down the front and back doors.
I can’t say with certainty how often you need to redo it.
I do it whenever I remember, which might only be once or twice a year — especially coming into winter when my warm home seems even more inviting.
If you want to be more cautious, you could add it into your household cleaning routine and give a final lemony layer to your freshly cleaned windows and doors.
We’re all looking for ways to save money on our bills, but you might be wasting money if you haven’t tended to your radiators recently.
If you feel your heating isn’t as effective as it once was, or that you seem to be turning the temperature up more than before, you might need to consider bleeding your radiators.
There are many signs that your radiators are in need of some TLC to consider doing so.
For example, if your radiator gets warm but the top stays cold there may be too much air in your heating system.
Similarly, excess noise from your radiators and pipes could indicate trapped air in the system.
In addition, you need a minimal amount of air in the heating system to ensure a water-based system will work efficiently.
Trapped air stops warm water from circulating, and means your central heating system is not working to its highest standard.
By bleeding your cold radiator you can prevent the use of excess energy, which will result in a lower heating bill.
Bleeding a radiator is simple and you need three things: A radiator key or a flathead screwdriver for some newer models of radiator, and a tea towel to dry the water released during the process.
If you can’t find your radiator key, you can buy one from a DIY or hardware store.
For your first step, turn off your heating so you don’t add more air to the system and risk having hot water spraying out. If your home has more than one floor, start by bleeding the radiators downstairs first.
Locate the bleed valve on your radiator. Open the intake and exit valves, and place the towel beneath the valve.
Next, use your radiator key or flathead screwdriver to open the bleed valve.
Turn the key or screwdriver anti-clockwise for about a quarter of a turn.
If you hear a hiss coming from the valve that means excess air is being released from the system.
You can close the valve again once water starts to come through, but turning the key or screwdriver in a clockwise direction.
Repeat this process on any other radiators you think may need your attention.
Chill Insurance recommends you check your boiler pressure levels “to ensure that you haven’t affected the overall pressure within the house’s heating system”.
“If this is the first time you have had to do this, you should consult the instruction guide as provided by the manufacturers.”
You are advised to bleed radiators once a year.
Contact a plumber if your heating issues continue after this, as there may be an underlying cause that requires professional attention.
: If the glass on your oven door is caked in dirt and grime, one of the simplest ways to clean it involves a product from another kitchen appliance.
Dip a solid dishwasher tablet in water and use the dampened tablet to scrub at the dirt on the door.
The combination of the cleaning agents and the abrasive nature of the tablet are the ultimate combination to tackle even the most burnt-in of stains.
Baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap: Baking soda, or bicarbonate of soda, is a gentle abrasive that will remove stubborn dirt without scratching the surface of your oven.
It also absorbs nasty smells and leaves a neutral scent, so it’s ideal for your oven.
Make a paste with equal parts of baking soda and any dish soap. Slather this over the surface you want to clean.
Let the mixture sit overnight to break down any tough grime.
The following day, spray the mixture with vinegar so it fizzes and bubbles. Wipe away the mixture with a clean, damp cloth to reveal a shiny oven.
: The humble lemon is a great cleaning agent. Its citric acid is antibacterial, antiseptic, and acts as a natural bleach.
Even better, this hack involves minimal effort on the cleaner’s behalf.
Fill a bowl or dish with water (make sure it is oven-proof).
Squeeze the juice of two lemons into the water. Place the bowl in the oven and turn it on to any heat.
Once you see the water bubbling, turn off the oven — but do not remove the bowl and keep the door closed.
The stream will work to dislodge any grime and grease in the oven.
: This is great if you’ve just spilled something inside your oven, and don’t want to risk burning your hands by cleaning it while the oven is still hot.
Sprinkling salt on the oven floor can stop stains from setting. Leave it to cool and wipe with a cloth. You’ll find the spill wipes away much easier thanks to the salt.
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Half fill a bowl or pot with water and half a cup of vinegar. Place this into the oven and leave for up to one hour.
The steam will loosen grease and dirt from the oven walls, floor and ceiling.
Turn the oven off and allow it to cool down. Wipe the oven clean once it has cooled with a clean, dry cloth.
The grease and dirt should come away much easier.
: Before you do anything, clear out your filter. It is usually found inside the dishwasher, on the bottom towards the back.
If you can’t find it, check the manufacturer’s manual.
Remove the filter and wash it with hot soapy water.
Make sure to clean out all the crevices, and check that it is free of food particles, before reinserting the filter.
Have you noticed a pool of water at the bottom of your dishwasher after each cycle? Your drain might be blocked, most likely by food.
To free it, remove the bottom rack while the dishwasher is empty.
Use a cup or towel to remove the water, depending on how deep it is.
With a cloth, remove any visible food or foreign objects and your water should now drain easily.
If not, check if your sink is blocked, as they often share a pipe. If this doesn’t solve the problem, consider calling a plumber. Your filter and drain should be checked and cleaned once a month.
: Another stink source can be the walls and door of the dishwasher.
A quick scrub with hot, soapy water can work wonders. Also, the door seals can be a magnet for dirt.
Run a damp cloth around the seals to remove any residue.
To tackle any potent pongs that remain after those steps, make sure your dishwasher is completely empty.
Fill a bowl with white vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. Run a normal cycle with only this inside.
Next, pour a cup of baking soda/bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of the dishwasher and run another cycle.
Additionally, run a hot wash in an empty dishwasher every now and again to clean out food debris.
This deeper clean should be done two or three times a year.
: Now that you have a shiny clean dishwasher, you should avoid certain habits.
Always remove excess food from plates and rinse them before loading them in the dishwasher.
Remember the filter you’ve just cleaned? Clean it regularly.
Running an occasional cycle with just a bowl of vinegar will deter pongs from forming.
Your cleaner dishwasher should also run more efficiently, and you will hopefully see the shine inside the machine reflected in your squeaky-clean dishes.
: Kitchen queen Martha Stewart suggests cleaning down your fridge’s interior seasonally using baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
She suggests this over regular soap, as often soap is scented and that smell can be absorbed by some foods.
Plus, baking soda has the extra benefit of absorbing smells and eliminating odours.
Using a mix of two tablespoons of baking soda and a cup of hot water, wipe down the inside of the fridge.
Rinse the mixture off with a damp cloth and dry it with a clean towel.
If you notice some tougher, caked-in residue in your fridge — apply the same mixture as above liberally to the problem area with a wet towel.
Leave the fridge door open and allow the mixture to sit for 10 minutes.
: Over time, you’ll notice your fridge shelves getting grubbier — as well as your fridge’s drawers — which often hold vegetables and other fresh food.
The simplest way to clean these is to remove them from the appliance and soak them in your sink (rotating the shelves regularly to ensure all sides get a soaking).
Make a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda for every litre of warm water, and soak the drawers and shelves in this. Do not wash them in the dishwasher.
Dry them thoroughly before replacing them inside your fridge.
Alternatively, mix three parts water with one part cleaning vinegar to a spray bottle. Spray onto your shelves and wipe dry.
Notice a whiff when you open your fridge door? If you know your fridge is clean, the unpleasant scent can be tackled thanks to your morning coffee habit.
Spread some fresh coffee grounds on a tray and place this inside the fridge. The odour should soon vanish, leaving a pleasant coffee scent.
Another creative solution, particularly for pet owners, is to use some cat litter. Spread half an inch of unscented cat litter on a plate and leave it inside the fridge until the smell is gone.
: You should regularly wipe your fridge’s doors, including the edges, and the top of the fridge with a damp cloth of dishwashing liquid and water.
For a deeper clean, wash the door seals with a hot water and mild dishwashing liquid mixture.
: To remove the brown mark, first soak up the excess liquid — remember: Blot, don’t rub.
Next, make a paste of baking soda/bicarbonate of soda, water, and salt, and rub it into the stain. Let it sit for half an hour before wiping away.
Alternatively, regular shaving foam contains cleaning agents that can tackle coffee stains. Rub the shaving foam into the stain, rinse with water, and repeat.
: Begin by stripping the bed and getting those clothes into the washing machine.
The quicker this is done, the easier it is to get rid of the smell of urine from the fabric.
Add a cup of white vinegar to the wash to ensure the scent is removed.
Next, blot the mattress to remove excess liquid. Make a solution to spray on the area: Two parts cold water, one part white vinegar, and add a few tablespoons of laundry detergent.
Spray generously on the stain and allow it to soak in for at least 15 minutes. Cover the soiled surface with bicarbonate of soda and let it sit for up to 10 hours, if possible, to soak up the smell. Finally, vacuum the dry baking soda from the mattress.
: Apply bicarbonate of soda directly to the stain and spray it with white vinegar.
This mixture will start bubbling. Let it sit on the stain for half an hour.
Dab the solution away with a clean cloth, followed by a cloth with cold water, or use a vacuum to remove it.
Alternatively, make a thick paste with talcum powder and water, apply it to the stain, and leave it until dry before brushing the paste away.
: Scoop the vomit off the bed and throw or flush it away.
Dab the mattress to soak up the excess.
Dilute a mild detergent in warm water and dab this onto the stain with a clean cloth.
Spray a solution of water and vinegar onto the stain next to deodorise.
For stubborn stains, add a teaspoon of liquid dish soap to the spray solution.
If it dries and an odour remains, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda and allow it to sit for some time before vacuuming it up.
Often we can forget about our wheelie bins — particularly the household waste and compost bin — and how dirty they can get.
Generally, it’s not a concern — but when the temperature rises, so too does the stink.
If your bins are stored near any area in which you might indulge in outdoor entertaining, like barbecuing, then you’ll want to avoid it ruining another sunny day.
The first steps to a more hygienic outdoor bin start inside your home.
Where possible, rinse packaging before you place it in the bin.
This is something you should already be doing for your recycling, but doing so on non-recyclable materials can prevent a smell from forming.
Similarly — if you use bin liners — make sure you expel as much air from them as possible, before tying them off and placing them in your wheelie bin.
Try to keep your bin in a shaded area as well. Too much direct sunlight will accelerate decomposition and make smells rise.
You should wash out your bins every two months. Pour half a cup of white vinegar and some washing-up liquid into the bin and half-fill it with hot water.
Allow it to sit for an hour before rinsing the water down a drain.
Repeat this a few more times for the best result, and turn the bin upside down with the lid open to air dry.
You can also scrub the inside of the bin to remove any grime.
The easiest method is to turn the bin on its side so it’s lying on the ground.
Using a long-handled brush, such as an old sweeping brush, scrub the side of the bin closest to the ground. Rotate the bin to repeat this on each inner side.
If this is impossible to do for any reason, there are a number of companies who provide deep cleaning services for wheelie bins — your own waste management provider might offer this service too.
One of the most obvious reasons to keep a bin clean is to avoid attracting flies. However, if you’ve noticed an increasing presence of them, there are a few other things you can do to keep them at bay.
Flies hate citrus scents, so rub down the lid with citronella oil or any other citrus essential oil to repel them.
Don’t forget the exterior of the bin either. Give it a scrub with a solution of white vinegar and washing-up liquid, in warm water, to remove dirt.
To avoid major smells from forming again, sprinkle the end of the bin with bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice.